Principal Investigator(s):
United States Department of Commerce. Bureau of the Census

Summary:

This data collection contains information from samples of
housing units in 11 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). Data include
year the structure was built, type and number of living quarters,
occupancy status, presence of commercial or medical establishments on
the property, and property value. Additional data focus on kitchen and
plumbing facilities, type of heating fuel used, source of water, sewage
disposal, and heating and air-conditioning equipment. Questions
concerning quality of housing include condition of walls and floors,
adequacy of heat in winter, availability of electrical outlets,
basement and roof water leakage, and exterminator service for mice or
rats. Data on housing expenses include amount of mortgage or rent
payments and costs of utilities, fuel, garbage collection, property
insurance, and real estate taxes. Respondents who had moved recently
were questioned about characteristics of the previous residence and
reasons for moving. Residents were also asked to evaluate the quality
of their neighborhoods with respect to issues such as crime, street
noise, quality of roads, commercial activities, presence of trash,
litter, abandoned structures, or offensive odors, and adequacy of
services such as police protection, shopping facilities, and schools.
In addition to housing characteristics, some demographic information is
provided on household members, such as age, sex, race, marital status,
income, and relationship to householder. Additional data are available
on the householder, including years of school completed, Spanish
origin, and length of residence.

This data collection contains information from samples of
housing units in 11 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). Data include
year the structure was built, type and number of living quarters,
occupancy status, presence of commercial or medical establishments on
the property, and property value. Additional data focus on kitchen and
plumbing facilities, type of heating fuel used, source of water, sewage
disposal, and heating and air-conditioning equipment. Questions
concerning quality of housing include condition of walls and floors,
adequacy of heat in winter, availability of electrical outlets,
basement and roof water leakage, and exterminator service for mice or
rats. Data on housing expenses include amount of mortgage or rent
payments and costs of utilities, fuel, garbage collection, property
insurance, and real estate taxes. Respondents who had moved recently
were questioned about characteristics of the previous residence and
reasons for moving. Residents were also asked to evaluate the quality
of their neighborhoods with respect to issues such as crime, street
noise, quality of roads, commercial activities, presence of trash,
litter, abandoned structures, or offensive odors, and adequacy of
services such as police protection, shopping facilities, and schools.
In addition to housing characteristics, some demographic information is
provided on household members, such as age, sex, race, marital status,
income, and relationship to householder. Additional data are available
on the householder, including years of school completed, Spanish
origin, and length of residence.

Study Description

Citation

United States Department of Commerce. Bureau of the Census. American Housing Survey, 1985: MSA Core and Supplement File. ICPSR09853-v1. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 1993. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR09853.v1